October 3, 2017

St. Francis Borgia

Lk 9: 51-56

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village.

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.

Opening our hearts

Jesus tries to enter a Samaritan village but is unwelcomed. What, his disciples ask, should visitors do to those who do not welcome them? Naturally, Jesus’s friends want to wish them ill, to pray that fire from heaven destroy the village (reminiscent of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah). But rather than rebuking those who denied hospitality, Jesus rebukes his friends! We must love everyone, not desire the bad for others, including those who are unkind to us.

Thankfully, Jesus does not reign fire from the heavens when we close the doors of our heart to him spiritually, or fail to offer hospitality to him in the guise of the stranger. Instead, we are invited to take a personal inventory and examine our consciences. What parts of my heart am I not sharing with him in prayer? How am I and my community being invited to be a person of hospitality to the tired, weary, and suffering?

—Mike Tedone, SJ, is a Jesuit Scholastic of the West Province in First Studies at Loyola University Chicago.

Prayer

As kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame;As tumbled over rim in roundy wellsStones ring; like each tucked string tells, each hung bell’sBow swung finds tongue to fling out broad its name;Each mortal thing does one thing and the same:Deals out that being indoors each one dwells;Selves — goes itself; myself it speaks and spells,Crying Whát I dó is me: for that I came.

I say móre: the just man justices;Keeps grace: thát keeps all his goings graces;Acts in God’s eye what in God’s eye he is —Chríst — for Christ plays in ten thousand places,Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not hisTo the Father through the features of men’s faces.

—Gerard Manley Hopkins, SJ

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St. Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuits, taught that a daily prayer practice helps us to discover God at work in our lives. The University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy invites you to join us in this Ignatian tradition of prayer, reflection, and discovery.

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All fields are optional except for the prayer request. Please know we will only share your first name and complete prayer request with the priests and brothers. Your name and Email addresses will never be shared with anyone, nor will you receive any additional correspondence from us.

October 3, 2017

St. Francis Borgia

Lk 9: 51-56

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village.

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.

Opening our hearts

Jesus tries to enter a Samaritan village but is unwelcomed. What, his disciples ask, should visitors do to those who do not welcome them? Naturally, Jesus’s friends want to wish them ill, to pray that fire from heaven destroy the village (reminiscent of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah). But rather than rebuking those who denied hospitality, Jesus rebukes his friends! We must love everyone, not desire the bad for others, including those who are unkind to us.

Thankfully, Jesus does not reign fire from the heavens when we close the doors of our heart to him spiritually, or fail to offer hospitality to him in the guise of the stranger. Instead, we are invited to take a personal inventory and examine our consciences. What parts of my heart am I not sharing with him in prayer? How am I and my community being invited to be a person of hospitality to the tired, weary, and suffering?

—Mike Tedone, SJ, is a Jesuit Scholastic of the West Province in First Studies at Loyola University Chicago.

Prayer

As kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame;As tumbled over rim in roundy wellsStones ring; like each tucked string tells, each hung bell’sBow swung finds tongue to fling out broad its name;Each mortal thing does one thing and the same:Deals out that being indoors each one dwells;Selves — goes itself; myself it speaks and spells,Crying Whát I dó is me: for that I came.

I say móre: the just man justices;Keeps grace: thát keeps all his goings graces;Acts in God’s eye what in God’s eye he is —Chríst — for Christ plays in ten thousand places,Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not hisTo the Father through the features of men’s faces.